Chumpy charges to bronze

Snowboard cross athlete Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin claimed Australia’s fifth medal at the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships with bronze in the men’s snowboard cross.

The two-time world champion navigated the heats with success before facing the six-man final, eventually finishing behind Frenchman Pierre Vaultier and Spain’s Lucas Eguibar to claim bronze less than one year out from the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

“(I’m) feeling positive about the way my body is (and) about how my mentality is with my racing. It’s pretty intimidating in races like today, six man heats and a fair few crashes going on and I’m still able to come here and fully commit and not hold back.”

“I’m working to expand my abilities in all conditions so when you do rock up to any course you can come away with a top three and that’s where I’m very happy about today,” Pullin said to the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia after finishing his season on a high.

Fellow NSWIS athlete Adam Lambert finished sixth in the event after lining up alongside Pullin the final, while Cam Bolton and Jarryd Hughes were unable to progress through the round of 48.

Pullin joins Britt Cox, Scotty James, Danielle Scott and David Morris as Australia’s medal winners from the world championships.